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Christine Rivett

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Christine Rivett
Rivett, c.1950
Born
Amy Christine Rivett

(1891-02-28)28 February 1891
Yarrawonga, Victoria, Australia
Died14 July 1962(1962-07-14) (aged 71)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
EducationSydney Girls High School
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
FatherAlbert Rivett
RelativesAlbert Cherbury David Rivett (brother)

Amy Christine Rivett (28 February 1891 – 14 July 1962) was an Australian medical practitioner. Known as Christine Rivett, she was a birth control advocate.

Early life and education

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Amy Christine Rivett was born at Yarrawonga, Victoria on 28 February 1891.[1] She was the sixth child of Elizabeth Mary Ann (née Cherbury) and Reverend Albert Rivett, a Congregational pastor and pacifist. Her sisters were the children's library founders Elsie Rivett and Mary Matheson.[2]

She was educated at Sydney Girls High School and then studied medicine at the University of Sydney, graduating with a bachelor of medicine in 1915 and master of surgery in 1918.[3]

Career

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Following her graduation in 1915, Rivett volunteered to serve in World War I but her offer was refused as women doctors were not accepted by the Australian government.[4] Instead she was appointed resident medical officer at the Hospital for Sick Children in Brisbane.[5] In 1917 she transferred to Brisbane General Hospital as resident medical officer and then to the Lady Bowen Hospital a year later in the same role.[6] Part of her job as municipal medical officer was to monitor the health of prostitutes and inspect brothels.[3]

In August 1918 Rivett opened a general practice in Wickham Terrace, Brisbane.[7] She gave a talk at the Brisbane Lyceum Club on "Sex Hygiene" in 1922,[8] while in the 1930s she advocated strongly for birth control,[9] saying that it should be part of the upper school curriculum.[10] She was, however, against abortion.[11] She was one of the founding members of the Queensland Medical Women's Society.[1]

She learnt to fly in 1929 and qualified in 1930[12] before being one of three women pilots who flew to Toowoomba to escort British aviator Amy Johnson to Brisbane following her London to Australia solo flight.[13] She was fined £100 for understating her income as £863 instead of £3,393 in her 1928–29 tax return.[14]

The Telegraph selected a quotation of Rivett's for its column, "Notable Sayings" in 1934:[15]

If we do nothing else than live in history as a generation of women who, having been denied preparatory education in sex, yet gave to the next generation opportunity for education in self-knowledge and sex hygiene, with full technique in contraception as her preparation for maternity, then I say we shall have reason for deep inner happiness.

— Christine Rivett

Rivett visited England, France and Germany in 1936 to develop her knowledge and skills in gynaecological surgery and study tropical medicine.[16] She was named as one of artist Vida Lahey's six outstanding women for her "for her brilliant gifts, courage and charm" in a quest to find Australia's most outstanding women held in 1936.[17] She moved to Sydney in 1947 and practised medicine with her brother, Edward Rivett.[18][19]

A bronze bust of Rivett by Daphne Mayo is held in the National Portrait Gallery.[20]

Rivett died in Sydney on 14 July 1962.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rivett, Amy Christine". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  2. ^ Godden, Judith, "Elsie Grace Rivett (1887–1964)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 3 January 2024
  3. ^ a b Rutledge, Martha, "Rivett, Amy Christine (1891–1962)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 3 October 2022
  4. ^ "Property Sales". Ovens and Murray Advertiser. No. 9871. Victoria, Australia. 1 May 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Children's Hospital". The Telegraph. No. 13316 (2 ed.). Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1915. p. 5. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Rivett, Amy Christine". Bright Sparcs: University of Melbourne. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Advertising". The Telegraph. No. 14, 277 (2 ed.). Queensland, Australia. 28 August 1918. p. 4. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Social". The Brisbane Courier. No. 20, 051. Queensland, Australia. 27 April 1922. p. 15. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Birth Control Defended". The Courier-Mail. No. 326. Queensland, Australia. 13 September 1934. p. 17. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Doctor Urges Teaching Of Birth Control". The Herald. No. 17, 887. Victoria, Australia. 13 September 1934. p. 4. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Destruction of the Unborn". The Courier-Mail. No. 1299. Queensland, Australia. 29 October 1937. p. 17. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Growing Wings". Sunday Mail. No. 352. Queensland, Australia. 23 February 1930. p. 21. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Farewell to Darwin". Morning Bulletin. No. 20, 429. Queensland, Australia. 27 May 1930. p. 7. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "False Tax Return". The Telegraph. No. 18, 019. Queensland, Australia. 5 September 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Notable Sayings". The Telegraph (2 ed.). Queensland, Australia. 15 September 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Christmas Spirit Aboard Ship". The Sun. No. 8416. New South Wales, Australia. 23 December 1936. p. 16 (Country Edition). Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Who Are Australia's Six Outstanding Women?". The Courier-Mail. No. 918. Queensland, Australia. 8 August 1936. p. 23. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "About People". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 30 September 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ a b "Rivett, Amy Christine". Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Portrait bust of Dr Christine Rivett, c. 1950 (cast 1955–1956)". National Portrait Gallery collection. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
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